Residents forced to buy water from private tankers

With Chikkamagaluru town staring at an acute water crisis, the residents have been receiving little or no water, which has forced them to buy water from private tankers.

The tankers charge between Rs 250 to Rs 350 per tanker of water. The CMC supplies water once in three to four days. As the quantity of water supplied is less, several wards have been facing an acute water crisis.

Chikkamagaluru town has more than 50 water tankers with 3500 to 4,000-litre capacity. The disruption in power supply is also affecting the supply of water from Yagachi, the source of water for Chikkamagaluru. Further, repair of the filter bed at Ramanahalli has affected water supply from Hirekolale lake. The depleting water-level in borewells has only further aggravated the problem.

“There is an acute water crisis in Ramanahalli, Gowri Kaluve, Vijayapura and Kalidasa Nagara. We are forced to purchase water from private tankers. The CMC is not making an effort to solve the crisis,” said Ramanahalli resident Shivanandappa.

Chikkamagaluru town requires 18 MLD of water daily. According to CMC officials, 12 MLD water is supplied from Yagachi and borewells and two MLD is supplied from Hirekolale Lake. Now, the supply of water from Hirekolale lake is disrupted due to repair work.

Dinesh of Kaveri Water Supply said, “We collect from borewells for supply. The water-level in borewells is fast depleting. We can supply 10 to 15 tankers of water. We charge Rs 250 per tanker of water. We get 20 to 30 calls from the public daily.”

Prakash of Sriram Water Supply said, “The calls for water supply have increased in the last one month. We have to pay the owner of borewells for the water.”

CMC Engineer M V Lokesh said, “Water is supplied once in four days for 25 wards. The remaining 10 wards get water for once in three days. At present, we are facing a shortage of 6 MLD per day.”

Further, he said there are 238 borewells in Chikkamagaluru. Measures will be taken to sink 10 new borewells. The borewell points have been identified at Halenahalli, Gavanahalli, Undedasarahalli, Vijayapura and other areas.

CMC Commissioner K Parameshi said, “The CMC has hired four private water tankers for water supply. Water is supplied to water-hit areas. About 40 tankers of water are supplied daily.”